The Philadelphia Eagles signed running back Darren Sproles to a one-year contract extension on Friday, keeping the veteran with the team through the 2017 season.
"Being one of the oldest guys on the team, to know you're going to be here a little bit longer, that's a pretty good feeling," Sproles said Friday morning shortly after signing the extension.
Since arriving in Philadelphia in 2014 via a trade with New Orleans, Sproles has been named to consecutive Pro Bowls as a return specialist. Sproles led the league in punt return yards in each of the past two seasons. The running back also notched two return touchdowns in back-to-back years, making him the only player in Eagles history to have multiple seasons with at least two punt return touchdowns. Overall, Sproles ranks eighth in NFL history in punt return yards (10,889) and has nine career return touchdowns to his name (seven punts and two kickoffs), which is tied for sixth all time in the league.
"It means a lot, coming from a team that didn't want me then coming here. They've been treating me great," Sproles said.
A dynamic and versatile player, Sproles is also atop the NFL with 16,207 all-purpose yards since 2007. He's amassed 646 rushing yards, 775 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns during his two seasons in Philadelphia and is the only player in the NFL to record 15 or more rushing touchdowns, 25 or more receiving touchdowns and five or more punt return touchdowns in his career.
"I just have to say, they go all out for me," Sproles said of the Eagles' special teams unit. "Coach Dave Fipp put together a great plan together for us for the week and we have the best group in the league."
One of the best multipurpose weapons in the entire NFL, Darren Sproles signed a one-year contract extension through 2017 on Friday morning.
Darren Sproles is entering his 12th NFL season, his third with the Eagles
Sproles was originally a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in 2005 out of Kansas State
Sproles has been the NFL leader in all-purpose yards since 2007 and leads all NFL running backs in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards during that span
Sproles also has nine career return touchdowns on both punts (seven) and kickoffs (two)
A two-time Pro Bowler in 2015 and 2016, Sproles ranks seventh in NFL history in combined kick and punt return yards (10,889) and eighth in kick return yards (8,331)
Sproles is the only player in NFL history to record 15-plus rushing touchdowns (19), 25-plus receiving touchdowns (28) and five-plus punt return touchdowns (seven) over the span of his career
Congratulations, Darren!
